37 Pumpkin Purée Recipes That Aren’t Just Another Pie
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If you’re looking for the best pumpkin pie to bake, you’re in the wrong place. (Head over here!) Still with us? Great! Because we’ve compiled our favorite pumpkin purée recipes here, including fall cakes, perfectly spiced doughnuts, soothing soups, easy quick breads, and creamy pastas. These recipes give you options for using up the dregs of a can of leftover pumpkin purée—as well as ideas for what to do with any additional cans taking up precious cabinet space. But be forewarned, once you start scrolling you might just realize you don’t have enough canned pumpkin purée to make every recipe that catches your eye. Need to stock up? Find our favorite brand right over here.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones1/37Marbled Pumpkin-Maple Cheesecake Bars
Some pumpkin purée recipes aren't that far off from pie—but they might be just the change-up you need for Thanksgiving this year. These creamy cheesecake bars sport a pretty swirl and a lovely pairing of flavors. To make them, you'll just reserve a small amount of maple-sweetened cheesecake batter before whisking in the pumpkin purée, ground ginger, and pumpkin pie spice; then swirl the two together over a graham crust before baking.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton2/37Clarified Pumpkin Spice Latte Milk Punch
No, your eyes are not deceiving you. This fall cocktail has all the flavors of a pumpkin spice latte, but it’s completely transparent. Learn how to make it—and clarify it—and then batch one up for your next gathering.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart3/37Pumpkin Bread
When you want to bake something that's not a whole big project, quick breads are here for you. This tender and delicious pumpkin bread gets a boost from equally autumnal apple cider.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Jerri Joy, Food Styling by Anna Hampton6/37Pull-Apart Bread With Pumpkin and Spinach
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks7/37Ricotta-Pumpkin Gnocchi with Brown Butter
Don't be intimidated by making gnocchi. Just tie a piece of kitchen string into a tightrope across your pasta pot, then use the string to slice off portions of the tender pumpkin and ricotta dumpling dough so that they fall right into the bubbling pot. Toss the cooked pasta with broccolini, squash, brown butter, and pine nuts to finish—it's the perfect fall dinner party dish.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson8/37Pumpkin Cheesecake With Bourbon–Sour Cream Topping
The caramelized flavor of bourbon and the tang of sour cream add balance to the rich, spiced filling of this cheesecake. This is one of those beloved recipes from Gourmet that Epicurious readers make year after year.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton9/37Pumpkin and Cookie-Butter Sheet Cake With Toasted Meringue
A combo of canned pumpkin and store-bought cookie butter makes this cake a do-not-miss holiday dessert. And just look at that dramatic meringue topping!
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson10/37Chocolate and Pumpkin Zebra Cake
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton11/37Curried Pumpkin Soup
Photo by Lisa Hubbard12/37Maple Pumpkin Pots de Crème
We're not saying you need to turn these pumpkin and spice baked custards into a fall-forward crème brûlée, but if you want directions for topping them with caramelized sugar, here you go.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege14/37White Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse
White chocolate adds both sweetness and luxurious texture to this mousse. It works on its own as a gluten-free dessert, or can be presented as a play on pie filling in this make-your-own, mix-and-match treat. The prep time? Just 30 minutes.
Romulo Yanes15/37Orange Pumpkin Cloverleafs
Making ham for Thanksgiving? You definitely need these light and puffy pumpkin yeast rolls. Not making ham? You're going to want them anyway.
Photo by Jennifer Davick16/37Pumpkin Beignets
If you've never tried making doughnuts before, this is your year. These yeasted pumpkin bites are made with whole wheat four, which gives them rich, nutty flavor, and kefir (though you could use buttermilk or plain yogurt instead).
Photo by JP Bevins, Food Styling by Molly Baz17/373-Ingredient Pumpkin Mousse
The grocery store's two top cans (that would be sweetened condensed milk and pumpkin purée) combine with whipped cream in this supremely easy dessert. Pro-tip: serve with gingersnaps, amaretti, or really good graham crackers.
Photo by John Kernick19/37Spiced-Pumpkin Soufflés With Bourbon and Molasses Sauce
Serve these airy spiced-pumpkin soufflés with bourbon molasses sauce to cap any celebratory meal. They're one of those Gourmet desserts that our readers have been loving for years and years.
Photo by Romulo Yanes26/37Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake With Buttermilk Icing
A double dose of buttermilk (first in the batter and again in the glaze) adds a bright punch to this holiday-spiced pumpkin bundt cake. It's one of those pumpkin recipes we return to because it's always a hit. Considering making your own homemade pumpkin purée for this recipe or any other pumpkin dessert recipes? Here's how to make pumpkin purée from fresh pumpkin.
Photo by Christopher Testani27/37Pumpkin-Caramel Tart with Toasted-Hazelnut Crust
Bake this gorgeous tart for Thanksgiving, and you might find yourself baking another to enjoy by the sliver in the days that follow. It sports a creamy pumpkin filling (sweetened with brown sugar) that's set between a hazelnut crust and brittle-like candied hazelnuts. The crust comes together lickety-split in a food processor.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Liberty Fennell, Prop Styling by Suzie Myers30/37Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake
Looking to impress at a bake sale or brunch? Crumb cake gets a fall makeover with this easy baking recipe. This streusel-topped fall dessert is especially delicious with a cup of tea or coffee.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks31/37Ultra Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Micah Morton33/37Spiced Chocolate-Pumpkin Cake With Pumpkin Glaze
Lara Ferroni34/37Chocolate-Covered Pumpkin Cheesecake Pops
We'd take these bittersweet chocolate–covered pumpkin cheesecake treats any day; but if you want to try coating them with tahini-walnut magic shell instead, well: we'd probably take those any day, too.
Photo by Alan Richardson35/37Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
There's no shame in store-bought cake mix, especially when you're juggling a lot as a host. Here, yellow cake mix is added to canned pumpkin purée to make cute little holiday cupcakes. Arrange them into a festive sugar pumpkin patch for a Thanksgiving or Halloween centerpiece. Feel free to jazz up some of them to look like little jack-o-lanterns.
Elinor Carucci36/37Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake with Orange-Cream Cheese Frosting
Five spice powder—which is made up of the usual pumpkin pie spices of cinnamon and clove, plus star anise, fennel seed, and Sichuan peppercorns (sometimes more)—is the secret to adding complex flavor to this easy cake.
